Divine Beings

Yama

यम

Lord of Dharma and Death

Who was Yama?

Yama (यम): Lord of Dharma and Death, one of the divine beings in the Mahabharata. God of death and righteousness, father of Yudhishthira by Kunti's mantra.

Quick Facts

Key facts about Yama
Sanskrit nameयम
Title / EpithetLord of Dharma and Death
FactionDivine Beings
Key traitsjust, testing, inexorable, fatherly
Featured in17 stories

About Yama

God of death and righteousness, father of Yudhishthira by Kunti's mantra. As the crane and the yaksha at the enchanted lake, he tested his son's wisdom; as Dharma he was incarnate in Vidura.

In Their Words

What is the greatest wonder? That men die daily, yet the living believe they will live forever.

Yama

Traits

  • just
  • testing
  • inexorable
  • fatherly

Story Appearances

Places in Yama's Story

Drawn from the stories Yama appears in.

Others counted among the Divine Beings.